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Topic: 1st time family camping -HELP!

KWrighty

13/5/2012 at 8:10pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Kalahari 8

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Hi we are new to camping and have just bought our 1st tent (very excited) a Kalahari 8, there is four of us 2 adults and 2 children (6 & 3).

I would really appreciate any help advise on what sleeping bags, equipment and family friendly campsites etc We are so new that we went to Go Outdoors and were mind boggled with the amount of things we are going to need.

Thank you

ailurotoo

13/5/2012 at 8:27pm
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well you can take lots of things you have already - if you've room in the boot of the car.

Duvets can be used instead of sleeping bags if you've got a campbed/sim combination ( sim = self inflating mattress) and of course if you decide not to go down the electric hook up route yet then that cuts costs to get started too.

Use the site reviews on here, and also the AA campsite finder is quite good for narrowing things down too, though the reviews on here are definitely worth their weight in gold 0 tripadvisor for tents, lol.

I'm a newbie too, was sorting out the equipment today - I can see how quickly people end up buying roof boxes and trailers - it all adds up pretty quickly.

KWrighty

13/5/2012 at 8:39pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Kalahari 8

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Thank you, so I don't need to invest in sleeping bags? We aree hoping to get airbeds, will we need paper under the airbeds and fleece blankets ontop?

Jewelsm

13/5/2012 at 8:40pm
Location: Northumberland
Outfit: vango illusion 800

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http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=7The list

Hopefully the link worked to the list. It's a good place to start, but you can find a lot of it at home or in pound shops. It doesn't all ave to be new or from camping shops, especially until you find out if you have the bug.

Welcome to the forum and the mad world of camping

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Jewelsm - a fair weather camper

August 2013, 14, 15, 16 & 17-Trevornick for two and a half weeks of sea and surf (and ever optimistic -lots of sun). Some other weekends if I can persuade DH

Jewelsm

13/5/2012 at 8:46pm
Location: Northumberland
Outfit: vango illusion 800

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Quote: Originally posted by KWrighty on 13/5/2012

Thank you, so I don't need to invest in sleeping bags? We aree hoping to get airbeds, will we need paper under the airbeds and fleece blankets ontop?

You should have something (more than a groundsheet) between the air bed and the ground and also something between your sheet or sleeping bag and the air bed. We have roll mats, then aired, fleece bed cover, fitted sheet, duvet and the quisions as optional extras if it is chilly.

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Jewelsm - a fair weather camper

August 2013, 14, 15, 16 & 17-Trevornick for two and a half weeks of sea and surf (and ever optimistic -lots of sun). Some other weekends if I can persuade DH

kate w

13/5/2012 at 10:08pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Camplet Concorde Bailey Phoenix+ 420

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Something under your airbed will help keep you warm. Aldi and Lidl have good foil backed picnic rugs that are large and do a good job. You then need something to cook on, depending what kind of camping this could be anything from a lightweight Trangia type stove through a range of single burner Gas/dual fuel stoves to a double burner and grill. If you're car camping some chairs and a table. I'd also suggest something vermin proof to keep your food in (being woken up at 3 in the morning by a mouse in your cornflakes is annoying!)so a plastic lidded box provides storage for packet goods etc. You could go on forever getting more and more bits and pieces but you can camp with the basics just as well, as long as you're warm and dry.

Lots of things you use everyday at home will do just as well on a camping holiday. The kids will have plastic beakers/bowls/plates, take some cutlery and pans from the cupboard. You can manage without a kettle if you've just got a saucepan to boil your water in.

Duvets and pillows off your beds (though you might want to use thicker winter weight ones rather than summer weight ones)a nice cosy flannelette sheet over the airbed and an extra blanket of some description.

Don't worry too much about getting changed for bed, many's the time my kids have gone to bed in the same clothes they've worn during the daytime as they're worn out and the clothes they're wearing are warm. Extra pairs of socks and a woolly hat can come in useful as can extra fleecy jumpers over pyjamas.

Post last edited on 13/05/2012 22:15:02

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Kate

Trailer tent, caravan and too many tents!

Taddy3

13/5/2012 at 10:50pm
Location: West Lothian
Outfit: Kalahari 10

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We have the Kalahari 10 and love it.Our kids are 7 and twins at 5 but we've been camping in our Kalahari since they were 3.
We have foam mats,then air beds then a sheet then sleeping bags and duvets for over the top for March/April camping.In the 3 years of camping as a family my tips are
1.start cooking earlier than at home as things take longer to boil I think.Also take a ready made frozen meal for first & second days if poss,keeps cool box cool too.
2.Pillows from beds at home are wonderful.We took 3 years to discover that after using blow up pillows and folded up clothes!
3.Get your beds made as early as possible in the day as once the light starts to go it is hard to see and also colder.We put sleeping clothes (pjs + fleece or track suit + hat or whatever it takes to feel cosy (agree with previous comment of putting kids to bed in whatever they ate wearing - part of the charm of camping to a 7 year old boy!) in the pockets in the lounge area of the tent yours probably has the same.
4.If you are drinking wine get a plastic wine glass as it tastes so much nicer than out of a beaker!
5.At our kids age we keep a potty in the tent rather than going to loos in morning or middle of night.
6.Enjoy a different time zone where things are a little out of routine nice and easy.
7. Make a list of everything you need and start packing the car the night before you go if possible.
8.Make arrival time at the campsite picnic time for the kids while you 'enjoy' putting up the tent.

Have a Brill time,it does sometimes seem like hard work at times but I look back on every one of our camping hols with happy memories and can't wait till the next and remember the most simple things are what make the kids most happy such as a bucket of water and a few colouring books,oh and Mum & Dad's time!
Enjoy
X

Aurinia

13/5/2012 at 11:13pm
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Hi, I'm new to this site too but have been camping a small handful of times with kids (three times in two years) and every time we go we're better equipped lol

First trip we survived (food and warmth was something I sorted from the start!!) but there was also a LOT we forgot or didn't consider!!!

Still, if you survive your first trip (and have more than 2 weeks to get things prepared like we did!!) you will more than likely catch the bug!! :D

So, first things first:
Tent, check!
Warmth:
With kiddies this is even more important!! We used our futon mattress to sleep on our second trip. (don't even want to mention the 20 year old barely existing foam mats we used on our first which caused considerable back pain...)
Third trip we couldn't take the futon (borrowed roofbox second trip) so we took a vango double SIM and an old single SIM. Underneath this we had an insulated picnic blanket and a king size duvet.
Then my 5 year old had a sleeping bag - so he wouldn't kick it off - and hubby, our 2 year old and I had our winter weight duvets. Over this we all had another super king duvet and / or wool and fleece blankets.
Layers trap heat better than anything and when it gets warm in the morning you can remove layers easily.
We all wore thermals, cotton PJs and fleece onesies. Bear in mind we went camping 3 weeks ago when it was effing freeeezzzziiinnnggg!!! But even in the middle of summer nights get cold!!

An absolute MUST is a kitchen!! We ended up cooking on the floor before we had our fantastic(!) kitchen with storage cupboards. Nightmare!! Check on eBay for seconds or used.

A folding table and some comfy chairs for evenings are a must too.

An awning or porch where you can take off wet / muddy boots before you enter your tent makes all the difference too.

There's an iPhone app (if you have an iPhone or iPad etc) which allows you to create a list for camping and tick things off.
I start packing well in advance making sure I have everything. Then I check and double check. You're likely still to forget something. Last time it was pegs for us!! D'oh! Lol

Take plenty of warm socks

Have a test run of pitching your tent. Agree who does what beforehand. Show kids how they can help (holding guys etc) if old enough.

Take socks.

I second the precooked meals. If going for longer I precook 3-4 meals, then freeze them. They stay frozen for up to 2 days in a cooler box with ice packs and stay cool long enough to have meals for the first 3-4 days. I also like to cook some cupcakes or something to have as a special treat :)

Do not forget warm socks!

Headtorches come in handy and while they're not necesary I couldn't do without mine now, especially when nappy changing or making a cuppa when it's dark.
Shoes that slip on and off easily make it less of a hassle goig in and out of the tent (crocks, wellies,...)

And please remember to bring plenty of warm socks!!!

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<3 my bell tent :)

KWrighty

14/5/2012 at 8:06am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Kalahari 8

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Thank you all, this has been a great help, Just hope I don't forget socks!

With regards to table and chairs, I have seen the table which have the stool/chairs attached are these any good?

What sort of food do you cook before and heat up when you are there?

jelboy53

14/5/2012 at 10:16am
Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300

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On the table with attached stools(Fold down into the table?)They are OK....But just watch the adult/child ratio when sitting round it..Its not the 1st time an adult in our party has stood up and the table has tipped up...Not a big issue(more of a laugh than anything)But worth watching!! They do ones these days with seperate benches that still go in the table when finished with....

Jelboy.

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Campers of the storm,Into this world are born

Some days are Diamonds...Some days are stone...

Obzi

14/5/2012 at 10:54am
Location: Middlesbrough UK.
Outfit: Outwell Vermont XL

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As I suggested on another thread go for a short camp camp for a night or two somewhere local so you become comfortable setting up and within that time you will soon see what you need and what you don't.

There are some essentials and there are luxury items you will want to take if you have space, but a lot of that depends on you and your family. For example, some people will say that an electric hookup and fan heater is essential but others don't ever take one, it's really up to you and how big your car is. A short trial run will answer a lot of your questions.

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Obzi

kaz1056

14/5/2012 at 12:44pm
Location: huddersfield
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cheap fleeces from ikea are wonderful, for beds or anything, can go under airbeds

Obzi

14/5/2012 at 1:57pm
Location: Middlesbrough UK.
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We bought a table with attached chairs, cheap price, all folds into a case, etc but really it's not much good for the reason meantioned above, it never feels stable. We're looking for a good quality table.

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Obzi

Aurinia

14/5/2012 at 4:08pm
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I tend to cook stews, pasta sauces, chilli, curry, thick soups, Anything saucy really, then I just add bread, pasta or quick cook grains (rice quinoa,...)

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<3 my bell tent :)

john ross on wye

14/5/2012 at 4:46pm
Location: herefordshire
Outfit: Cabanon Calais

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I have found a very useful item and a must have for me , a cheap fleece dressing gown from Primark, has saved me many times from hypothermia, can be worn over jim-jamst to sleep in, and Ok for nocturnal modesty sprints to the loo. Stay warm and dry and well fed, you won"t go far wrong, Happy camping.

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war baby

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